ROCKLAND, Maine — Rockland Savings Bank claims that a longtime employee embezzled money and used it to benefit herself and family members including a brother who is suing the bank over his sister’s actions.
The bank filed its response Friday in a civil lawsuit filed against Rockland Savings last month by Christopher Wellman and Tara Wellman of Hope.
While the suspected employee is not named in the civil suit and has not been charged with a crime, the bank names her in its response to the lawsuit and indicates that she has been fired.
“This case arises out of the misconduct of Shauna Quinn, a longtime employee of RSB, who opened a series of lines of credit for numerous family members at their request. Among those family members was Mr. Wellman, Ms. Quinn’s brother,” the lawsuit states.
Quinn then abused her position, the bank claims in the lawsuit, by drawing funds from those lines of credit for her own benefit and that of family members including her brother.
“To the knowledge of RSB, Ms. Quinn used her wrongfully acquired funds to, among other things, refurbish her house, pay her family members’ bills and take her family members on vacations,” the bank’s response states.
The Wellmans’ lawsuit claims that at least $95,000 from their accounts at Rockland Savings was misdirected by a bank employee.
The bank’s response to the suit identifies Quinn as that employee and states that she is under investigation by the FBI and Rockland Savings anticipates federal charges will be brought against her by the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Donald Clark said Monday he cannot comment on whether anyone is under investigation
Quinn had no comment when reached by telephone Monday morning. She said she had referred the newspaper’s earlier request for comment to her attorney and that the attorney would issue a response to the newspaper. Her attorney, Walter McKee of Augusta, said, “We are in the process of reviewing the allegations. We have very little information at this time.”
A message seeking comment was left with the Wellmans’ attorney Chad Cloutier of Rockland on Monday morning. The call was not immediately returned.
Wellman claims in his civil lawsuit that the bank employee opened a loan account from 2008 through 2011 totaling $68,000 in Wellman’s name without his knowledge and without benefit to him. The employee used the money to her benefit, the lawsuit states.
Wellman claims in his lawsuit that when he checked the status of his accounts with the bank during the three-year period, he was provided “misleading or patently false” information. He noted in the lawsuit that he had a valid signature card on file at Rockland Savings Bank but that at no time did anyone from the bank use it to verify the signatures on the fraudulent checks.
Wellman is seeking, among other things, that his credit be restored, that the bank pay compensatory and punitive damages, and payment of damages to Tara Wellman for loss of consortium resulting from the negligence of the bank.
The bank claims in its response that when the bank discovered Quinn’s alleged misconduct during in July 2011, it fired her, reported her action to proper authorities and worked with Christopher Wellman to ensure that all money was refunded to him.
“Incredibly, plaintiffs did not name Ms. Quinn as a defendant, nor is she even mentioned by name in the complaint,” the bank’s response states.
The bank argues in its response that the Wellmans are using a “kitchen sink” litigation strategy against the bank.
The bank has asked for the Wellmans’ claims to be dismissed.
Nothing like sharing the wealth, but, it was not Ms Quinn’s to share.
Sounds like Obamacare.
She used family’s names, not a stolen ID?? This long time banker wasn’t the brightest employee.
I wonder why she thought none of those who got lines of credit would notice money going missing? How did she explain it to them when they finally caught on?
oops?
Um, let’s see. Maybe she told them, “I wanted my legacy to read,’She madeoff with Family Funds.’ ” Hey, if Bernie could do, why couldn’t she? But seriously, I hope the victims can be made whole again.
perhaps she was using the accounts to also make the payments – withdraw money from one equity account, use that money to pay another account.
I would hold RSB responsible for this “oversight” re: their employee.
I gathered from a previous article that this all started back in June of 2010. I can understand some people may not balance their accounts often, but with the large amounts in these accounts it is difficult to believe no one ever took notice of at least the statements, especially at tax time. The one credit line account that was drawn upon that I took notice of was the home equity line. Once this line was drawn upon somebody had to pay interest and/or principle monthly. It just seems that there is part of this story missing here.
She needs to be held accountable not the bank. It sounds like she was pretty good at covering tracks for some time and the only reason he isnt suing his sister is because she doesnt have the money. “loss of consortium, the inability of one’s spouse to have normal marital relations, . ” Always an added touch in a lawsuit He has a good lawyer lol. I think this case needs to be handled in a criminal court and at their next family reunion.
All in the family.